This is the 25th installment in this series. Click here for the previous installment.
This is the second part of a two-part series on the three children of Johannes and Magdalena Amstutz Sommer family who came to America.
Click here for the first part, which featured Abraham and his wife, Anna Gerber Sommer. The first part includes additional family background details. Note that there are spelling changes of some family member’s last names.
This column’s focus is on Jacob and Marianna Amstutz, and Jacob’s second wife, Lydia Amstutz. It is also focused on Marianna Sommer and her husband, Benedicht Leichty.
Jacob Sommer
Born: Jan. 20, 1851, Amt Delsberg, Canton Jura, Switzerland
Died: April 29, 1933, Pandora
Buried: St. John Mennonite Cemetery
Jacob’s father: Rev. Johannes Sommer (1818-1899)
Jacob’s mother: Magdalena Amstutz (1815-1871)
Marianna Amstutz - Jacob's first wife
Born: July 9, 1857, Richland Township
Died: Dec. 16, 1889, Riley Township
Buried: St. John Mennonite Cemetery
Marianna’s father: Abraham B. Amstutz (1825-1903)
Marianna’s mother: Anna Bucher (1833-1858)
Children of Jacob and Marianna Amstutz Sommer
Noah Sommer
Born: March 13, 1877, Pandora
Died: Feb. 12, 1961, McComb, Ohio
John A. Sommer
Born: July 28, 1878, Pandora
Died: March 7, 1938, Pandora
Spouse: Mary Hilty
Martha Sommer
Born: March 15, 1881, Pandora
Died: Sept. 20, 1974, Riley Township
Spouse: Edward Hilty
Philip Sommer
Born: March 30, 1883, Pandora
Died: Feb. 25, 1937, Riley Township
Spouse: Viola Hilty
Leo Sommer
Born: May 2, 1855, Riley Township
Died Dec. 1, 1933, Scranton, Iowa
Spouse: Lela Beason
Alvan J. Sommers
Born: May 24, 1887, Riley Township
Died July 12, 1957, Orrville, Ohio
Spouse: Susan P. Moser
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Lydia Amstutz - Jacob's second wife
Born: Aug. 19, 1863, Richland Township
Died: June 24, 1926, Pandora
Buried: St. John Mennonite Cemetery
Lydia’s father: John C. Amstutz “Korbeli Stutz” (1825-1895)
Lydia’s mother: Anna C. Kaufman (1842-1916)
Children of Jacob and Lydia Amstutz Sommer
Edwin Sommers
Born: Oct. 19, 1891, Riley Township
Died: Dec. 11, 1935, Toledo, Ohio
Spouse: Louella Hilty
Walter M. Sommer
Born: Jan. 28, 1896, Pandora
Died: July 27, 1970, Bluffton
Spouse: Cora M. Gratz
Ezra Sommers
Born: March 6, 1901: Pandora
Died: April 26, 1978, Lafayette, Wisconsin
Spouse: Kathryn Mahoney
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Marianna Sommer
Born: Jan. 1, 1855, Mont Courtatel Delsberg, Bern, Switzerland
Died: April 22, 1942, Bluffton
Buried: Ebenezer Mennonite Cemetery
Marianna’s husband: Benedicht Leichty
Born: July 7, 1848 Tscheiwo Aw. Munster, Bern, Switzerland
Died: April 19, 1941, Bluffton
Buried: Ebenezer Mennonite Cemetery
Benedicht’s father: Christian Liechty
Benedicht’s mother: Anna Luginbuhl
Children of Marianna Sommer and Benedicht Leichty
Paulina Leichty
Born: Jan. 29, 1875, Canton Bern, Switzerland
Died: Jun 25, 1969, Decatur, Indiana
Spouse: Emil Liechty
Jakob Arnold Leichty
Born: March 30, 1876, Canton Bern, Switzerland
Died: May 22, 1898
Carolina Leichty
Born: June 7, 1977, Canton Bern, Switzerland
Died: March 10, 1971, Lima, Ohio
Spouse: Marshall A. Parker
Emmanuel Leichty
Born: July 15, 1881, Pleasant Township, Putnam County
Died: June 8, 1953, Mt. Blanchard, Ohio
Spouse: Marianna Amstutz
Martha Leichty
Born: May 22, 1885, Orange Township, Hancock County, Ohio
Died: Dec. 10, 1903
Katherine Leichty
Born: July 9, 1889
Died: Jan. 19, 1964
Spouse: Andrew Sprunger
Noah Albert Leichty
Born: June 21, 1890
Died: Jan. 12 1979, Versailles, Ohio
Spouse: Mildred Miller
Spouse: Jessie Evick
Lena L. Leichty
Born: July 26, 1892, Bluffton
Died: Feb. 12, 1873, Lima, Ohio
Spouse: Peter V. Schiffler
Christiana “Tina” Leichty (adopted)
Born: July 26, 1892, Allen County
Died: June 25, 1986
Spouse: Lloyd Addison Basinger
